Method and system for monitoring location based service emitter infrastructure

ABSTRACT

A system and method for monitoring location based service emitter infrastructure. Beacon data is stored, the beacon data transmitted by beacons in an area and detected by a client device that is moved along a path at the location. The beacon data along the path of the client device is analyzed to determine whether any of the detected beacons have failed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to location based services implementedwith electronic devices, and more particularly to the monitoring of alocation based service emitter infrastructure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Location Based Services (LBSs) include electronic systems that providethe capability to find the location of a mobile electronic device andprovide services based on this location information. For example, someLBS systems can deliver a geographical location of a mobile user orobject, or other objects, to other users or computers via an electroniccommunication link, such as the Internet and/or a wireless network.

LBS systems can also be used in more confined areas, such as a retailstore. A typical problem for a customer shopping in a retail store islocating the items that are of interest to the customer. For example,customers in a store must locate items, then take the items to thecheckout area for purchase. Difficulties in locating items arecompounded by unfamiliar stores, by changes in the store layout, etc. ALBS system can be used by customers to locate themselves within thestore and used by store managers for security, inventory or for trackingcustomer purchase.

One type of LBS system that can be used within a retail store is aninfrared LBS system. Infrared emitters or “beacons” can be placed inseveral locations within the store and each can emit a differentidentification, i.e., identification data, which indicates a uniqueidentification for that particular emitter. While shopping in the store,a customer can bring along and access a moveable or portable clientdevice, such as a personal digital assistant, cellular phone, a deviceresiding on a shopping cart or basket, or other device, which canreceive the emitted infrared identification information from the emittervia an IR port. The location identification data can be processed at theclient device, or at a central server that is in communication with theclient device, e.g., wirelessly, to access a database of store locationinformation and use the detected emitter identification to find thelocation of that emitter in the store. This indicates the clientdevice's location in the store, which can then be provided to thecustomer or user. For example, the user's current location on a map ofthe store layout can be displayed on a display screen of the clientdevice or a connected display screen, allowing the user to quicklylocate himself or herself within the store. Furthermore, suggested pathsto desired products can be indicated on the display, those pathsstarting from the user's determined current location. Other usagesinclude providing offers and information for proximate products,tracking customer shopping patterns, etc. As the customer and clientdevice move close to other infrared emitters, those emitters' signalsare received by the client device over the infrared communication link,and the client device and/or server can use that information to updatethe client device's location within the store.

A problem with infrared emitters and other types of emitters in such anLBS system is that the emitters often receive power from batteries. Ifthe power in the batteries becomes drained, the emitters eventuallyfail. In addition, emitters may fail for other reasons, such as anemitter diode failing or another component malfunctioning. Failure ofemitters is not automatically known to the system manager; the only wayto know if an emitter has failed is to individually inspect each emitterdevice, including battery level, etc. This is time consuming andtedious, especially when many emitter devices are provided in an areasuch as a retail store.

Accordingly, what is needed is an apparatus and method for easilymonitoring the state of a location based service infrastructure thatincludes emitters or beacons. The present invention addresses such aneed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention of the present application relates to a system and methodfor monitoring location based service emitter infrastructure. In oneaspect of the invention, a method for monitoring the infrastructure of alocation based service includes storing beacon data transmitted by aplurality of beacons in an area and detected by a client device that ismoved along a path at the location, and analyzing the beacon data alongthe path of the client device to determine whether any of the detectedbeacons have failed. Similar aspects of the invention provide a computerreadable medium for implementing similar features.

In another aspect, a system for monitoring the infrastructure of alocation based service includes at least one client device that ismoveable along at least one path in an area and which can detect beacondata transmitted from each of a plurality of beacons provided in thearea, and a server that receives the beacon data from the at least oneclient device. The server includes a storage device that stores thebeacon data, where the server analyzes the beacon data along the path ofthe client device to determine whether any of the detected beacons havefailed.

The present invention allows the failures of emitters in a locationbased service infrastructure to be easily monitored and detected. Anarea manager does not need to individually test each emitter todetermine whether it is working properly, since the system determinesthe needed information. Furthermore, the system can detect emitterfailures, or intermittent failures, using the normal operation andcomponents of the location based service infrastructure without needingany additional hardware or extensive new procedures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a location based service systemsuitable for use with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of an example of a retail storearea implementing a location based service in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of beacon data received by theserver and examined to determine failures in the beacons;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method of the presentinvention for detecting and storing beacon data for use in monitoringlocation based service infrastructure; and

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method of the presentinvention for examining beacon data to monitor location based serviceemitter infrastructure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to location based services implementedwith electronic devices, and more particularly to the monitoring of alocation based service emitter infrastructure. The following descriptionis presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and usethe invention and is provided in the context of a patent application andits requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment andthe generic principles and features described herein will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded thewidest scope consistent with the principles and features describedherein.

The present invention is mainly described in terms of particular systemsprovided in particular implementations. However, one of ordinary skillin the art will readily recognize that this method and system willoperate effectively in other implementations. For example, the clientdevices and server architectures usable with the present invention cantake a number of different forms. The present invention will also bedescribed in the context of particular methods having certain steps.However, the method and system operate effectively for other methodshaving different and/or additional steps not inconsistent with thepresent invention.

To more particularly describe the features of the present invention,please refer to FIGS. 1 through 5 in conjunction with the discussionbelow.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a location based service system10 suitable for use with the present invention. System 10 can beprovided in any desirable area that provides location tracking or otherlocation-based information to users in the area. System 10 includes anumber of infrared (IR) beacons 12, a number of client devices 14, and aserver 16.

IR beacons 12 are emitters that each emit an infrared beam into aparticular zone or area around the beacon, that beam providinginformation that can be received by an appropriate IR receiver. Forexample, each IR beacon 12 can transmit an identification code whichidentifies that particular beacon to a receiving client device 14 and/orserver 16. In some embodiments, the IR beacons 12 can also transmitother information, such as data indicating the battery life, diode life,or other status of the beacon.

Client devices 14 are provided to users, such as customers within aretail store, and are generally moveable or portable devices that allowusers some freedom of movement within the area. Typically, each user orgroup of users is provided with a client device 14. Each client device14 includes an infrared receiver 20 that is able to receive the infraredsignals emitted from the beacons 12 and extract the information fromthose signals. In addition, in some embodiments, each client device 14can emit signals to relay beacon information to a server or otherdevice. In the described embodiment, a client device 14 includes awireless transmitter and can output wireless signals such as radiofrequency (RF) signals to a server device 16 within range of the outputsignals. In some embodiments, the client devices 14 can also includewireless receivers which can receive wireless signals from the server16.

Client devices 14 can take many forms in different embodiments.Typically, a client device is an electronic device having an inputinterface for the user to input data and an output interface to providedata to the user. In one embodiment for a retail store area, each clientdevice 14 is a small electronic device coupled to a wheeled shoppingcart or carried basket which the user moves around the store to holditems the user has selected for purchase or checkout. The electronicdevice can include a display screen for displaying a map or layout ofthe store to the user to aid in finding items of interest, and theclient device's current location can be displayed on the map or layoutto help the user in locating himself or herself within the store. Inother embodiments, the client devices 14 can take other portable formsto be carried by the user. For example, the device can be a portablecomputer or portable device/article that includes a computer, such as alaptop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), cell phone, tabletcomputer, portable organizer, electronic wristwatch, etc. Each clientdevice 14 can include one or more processors (microprocessors,application specific integrated circuits, etc.), memory (RAM and/orROM), and input/output (I/O) components (network interface, inputdevices, output devices), as is well known.

Each client device 14 can include an additional variety of locationbased functions of interest to a user besides locating the user withinthe monitored area. For example, a user may be able to input a shoppinglist of desired items, or query for particular items in the store, orrequest an efficient route to a desired item. Any type of input devicecan be used for such input, including buttons, stylus, pointer,touchscreen, microphone, etc. In some embodiments, shoppers can utilizea Smart Card or other storage card or device, which stores master listdata which the client device can access. A client device 14 can outputinformation to a user using any of a variety of output devices, such asdisplay screen, printer, audio speakers, and tactile feedback, etc.

In other embodiments, the beacons 12 can emit other types of signalswhich are detected by client devices 14. For example, radio signals,such as radio frequency identification (RFID) signals, can be used,where the beacons include tags to be read by readers on the clientdevices.

Server 16 can be included in system 10 to manage the operations of thesystem and provide a central database for use with client devices 14.The server 16 can have a communication link with each client device 14,e.g., a wireless receiver for receiving signals such as RF signals, orother convenient link. In some embodiments, the server 16 can include awireless transmitter for sending wireless signals to receivers in theclient devices 14. Server 16 can be a computer, such as a mainframe,desktop, or other computer device, that includes the necessarycomponents for processing and storing information, such as one or moremicroprocessors, hard drives and/or other storage devices, etc. Theserver preferably runs a number of programs and agents that managelocation based service functions.

The server 16 can process the information from the beacons 12 which ispassed to the server from the client device 14. In some embodiments, theserver 16 receives all information from the beacons, and the clientdevice 14 performs no processing on the beacon data except to send it tothe server. The server can then reference stored data to determine theclient device's location in the serviced area. In some embodiments, theserver can send data back to the client device 14 so that the clientdevice 14 can provide relevant information to the user, such asdisplaying map or layout information and the user's current position onthat map. In addition, the server 16 can determine whether a clientdevice and customer have strayed from a user-selected route and canrecalculate the desired route and/or redirect the customer to theoriginal route. In other embodiments, the client device 14 can havelocation information stored locally to the device 14, and can processthe beacon data itself to determine the position of the client device 14with respect to the entire area.

The server 16 also preferably stores the raw beacon data from the clientdevice 14, this data assisting in the monitoring of the location basedservice emitter infrastructure of the present invention. The server canreceive raw beacon data indicating the identification of the beacons 12that were detected by each client device 14 and the time of reception ofeach beacon identification is logged by the server. Alternatively, eachclient device can log the time it receives a beacon's signal and sendthe timestamp information to the server along with the beacon signaldetected (raw beacon data). In the described embodiment, the server 16can store the raw beacon information (and any other needed information,such as timestamps) in a raw location data repository 30.

At some predetermined time or periodic interval, a location beacon errordetection agent program 32 can examine the raw beacon data in therepository 30, looking for errors in beacon data that may indicate afailure of one or more beacons 12. To perform this examination, theagent 32 receives path and constraint information from a repository 34in the server 16, which indicates the paths that client devices 14 cantake through the monitored area and the constraints for all possiblepaths. The examination of beacon data is described in greater detailbelow with respect to FIGS. 3 and 5.

Once the raw beacon data is examined, a beacon status report 36 isgenerated and stored on the server. This status report can be examinedby system operators or programs to determine whether any errors haveoccurred in beacons 12. Thus, no time-consuming process of checking eachindividual beacon for failure need be performed by the system operator.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of an example 100 of a retailstore area implementing a location based service system in accordancewith the present invention. In this example, the location based serviceis used to track the motion of the client device and customer throughoutthe retail store, which can be used in some embodiments to assist thecustomer in locating themselves and items of interest in the store, andcan also be used by the store managers/operators for security or otherapplications. In accordance with the present invention, the locationbased service can also be used by the store owner or manager to monitorthe functionality and operability of the emitter infrastructure.

Retail store 100 includes an area having a number of shelves 102 inwhich items are stored and displayed to customers for purchase. Forexample, a supermarket typically has food and related items provided onshelves similar to shelves 102 which customers can place in a shoppingcart. A number of IR beacons 104 are provided throughout the store,which, for example, can be placed in any convenient location, such asoverhead in a ceiling or other fixture, in the floor of the store, inthe shelves 102, etc. In the described embodiment, the beacons 104 areplaced at regular intervals, but need not be placed that way in otherembodiments. In addition, a server 106 is provided at a location in,near, or associated with the store 100. The server 106 is positioned sothat a wireless receiver 108, connected to the server, can receivewireless signals from client devices 14 used in the store 100. Forexample, server 106 can be positioned in a side room or other area ofthe store. In some embodiments, receiver 108 can also include atransmitter, and the carts 114 and 116 can also include compatiblewireless receivers so that the server 106 may communicate signals to thecarts.

A customer enters the store at an entrance 110 or 112 with a shoppingcart 114 or 116, respectively. In the described embodiment, each ofshopping carts 114 and 116 has a client device 14 coupled to orintegrated within the cart, and each client device includes an IRdetector 20 (in other embodiments, a customer may have a portable clientdevice not attached to a cart). In some embodiments, robotic shoppingcarts can be provided, which include motorized or mechanical componentsto drive themselves along routes established by server 106.

As cart 114 is moved throughout the store with a customer, the path ofthe cart is detected by the client device by detecting the IR emittedsignals of the beacons 104 in that path. For example, the path of cart114 in store 100 is indicated by the horizontally shaded path beacons118 in FIG. 2. The detected beacon signals are transmitted by the clientdevice on cart 114 by a transmitter to the server 106 via wirelesssignals that are received by the wireless receiver 108 of the server106. For example, the detected unique beacon identification codes can betransmitted to the server 106 in real time for each encountered beacon,and the server 106 can log the time and duration of detection (and/orthe client device 14 can transmit time/duration information to theserver. The client device 14 of cart 116 similarly detects the signalsfrom beacons 104 in the path of cart 116 and transmits those beacon IDsto the server 106.

The server 106 can process the detected beacon signals to determinewhether any of the encountered beacons 118 have failed. This isdescribed in greater detail with respect to FIGS. 3 and 5.

Some embodiments of the invention can also allow the client device 14 toreceive information from the server 106. For example, a personal clientdevice can be sent a current store layout, or a current store inventoryfor display to the customer. A client device can also receive (orgenerate locally) an optimized route through the store to obtain itemsof customer interest. In some embodiments, multiple different efficientroutes can be determined and presented to the user based on items theuser has designated are of interest, thereby allowing the user to selecta desired route from the presented routes.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an example of beacon data 150received by the server 16 and examined to determine failures in thebeacons 12. Beacon data 150 is stored in the raw location datarepository 30 of the server 16 and includes path data from fourdifferent client devices 14, presented in the vertical axis in the orderthat the client devices 14 encountered the beacon signals. The data ispresented along the horizontal axis in an order corresponding to theinformation acquisition time of the data, i.e. the order that the server16 received the data, such that client device 1 detected each beacon 12before client device 2 detected the same beacon, client device 2detected each beacon before client device 3 detected the same beacon,and so on. In the example of data 150, for simplicity, each clientdevice 1-4 has traveled the same path, such that each client devicemoved through the emitting range of Beacons A-F at the monitored area.

Each circle 152 indicates a beacon detection, e.g., a beaconidentification code being reported by a client device 14 to the server16. Along the path of client device 1, all the beacons in the path,Beacons A-F, were detected. Along the same path of client device 2, inwhich client device 2 was in detection range of each of Beacons A-F at alater point in time than was client device 1, Beacons A-D and F weredetected, but Beacon E was not. Along the same path of client device 3,Beacons A, B, and D-F were detected, but Beacon C was not. Finally,along the same path of client device 4, Beacons A, B, and D-F weredetected, but Beacon C was not.

A program, such as the location beacon error detection agent 32 of FIG.1, can examine the accumulated beacon data and can make estimationsabout the operating state of the beacons 12 in the system. The agentcompares client device beacon data on a particular path with predefined“normal” data for that path, where the normal data is stored in the pathinformation and constraint repository 34 and shows what the beacon datashould be if all beacons are operating properly on that path. Note thatif the order of beacons detected by a client device is reversed from theorder in the normal path, the agent 32 can still compare those pathwaysby simply reversing the order of one of the paths.

In addition, the agent 32 can compare the beacon data from the pathwaysof the different client devices 14 to make more accurate estimations ofbeacon functionality. By examining the data from each particular beaconat different times or over time, the agent gets a better picture as tohow those beacons are behaving over time.

For example, assume the normal data for a particular beacon path is thesame as the detected beacon data for client device 1 (in either order,from Beacons A to F or from Beacons F to A). By comparing the beacondata from the client 2 path to the normal data, the agent knows thatBeacon E in the pathway of client device 2 is not functioning properly,since its signal was not detected where it should have been. Inaddition, the agent can compare each beacon data for client device 2with that for client devices 3 and 4. The fact that Beacon E was notdetected in the path of client device 2, but was later detected in thepaths of client devices 3 and 4, indicates that Beacon E is providingspurious missing data that may indicate an impending permanent failureof Beacon E, but that Beacon E has not yet completely failed. Similarly,the agent can determine that Beacon C has failed in paths of clientdevices 3 and 4 by comparing that data to the normal path information.In addition, the fact that Beacon C was reported in the paths of clientdevices 1 and 3, but is no longer reported by client devices 3 or later,may indicate that Beacon C is no longer operational and may havepermanently failed. Additional, later data can confirm this permanentfailure from other client devices, if Beacon C is no longer detected atall.

The different client devices 14 may travel along different paths at themonitored area, and thus may detect Beacons A-F in a different order, ormay have only some of the Beacons A-F in their path, and/or may detectother beacons in their paths in the area. In such cases, the agent cancompare the normal pathway for each of these different paths, stored inrepository 34, to the taken path. If comparing data from differentclient devices, where those client devices have all taken differentpaths in the area, the agent 32 can examine individual beacons, and cancompare the times that each beacon was detected and each beacon ID sent,and thus determine the order of beacon detection (i.e., the horizontaldirection in FIG. 3).

In some instances, a user or customer may reverse direction along apath. However, such reverses can be detected by the agent, since itknows the order beacons that should be detected along allowable paths inthe area; if a client device reverses direction, then no further beaconsare detected along a particular path, and the beacons already detectedare detected again immediately. The agent can compare the part of thepath taken that corresponds to the part of the normal path for thatpathway.

Based on this examination, the agent 32 can output the beacon statusreport 36 that highlights these findings. This allows the system managerto quickly determine which beacons 12 have potential problems, and totest those beacons more thoroughly.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method 200 of thepresent invention for detecting and storing beacon data for use inmonitoring location based service infrastructure. These steps can beimplemented by the client device 14 and server 16 using programinstructions stored on a computer readable medium, such as memory, harddrive, optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc.), magnetic disk, etc. Thesesteps can be implemented in hardware (logic gates, etc.), software, or acombination thereof.

The method begins at 202, and in step 204, the software on a clientdevice 14 checks whether that client device 14 has begun moving on apath through the serviced area. For example, this path can start whenthe customer enters the area and the device detects a beacon signal. Or,the customer might activate a start control on a client device,indicating that the location based service is currently desired, e.g.,shopping in a retail store area has begun. If no client device has begundetection, the method waits at step 205 and returns to step 204.

Once a client device 14 begins detecting a path through the area, step206 is performed, in which a beacon signal is detected along the path.As described above, beacon signals can be IR signals received by an IRdetector on the client device 14, or other types of signals. This beaconsignal preferably includes unique identification data identifying thatparticular beacon. In some embodiments, additional information can bereceived from the beacons, such as battery or power life indicators,diode life indicators, or other emitter status indication data.

In step 208, the client device 14 provides beacon data, equivalent tothe received beacon signal, to the server 16. As described above, thisis preferably performed using a wireless signal from the client device14 to the server 16, although any suitable communication channel can beused. In step 210, the client device 14 checks whether it is done, i.e.,whether the customer has completed all desired movement within themonitored area and has exited or will exit the area. In someembodiments, this can be an automatic step, e.g., the client device 14simply no longer detects any beacon signals. In other embodiments, theuser may indicate that his or her activity within the area is ended,such as via an interface on the client device. If the client device isdone, then the process returns to step 204 to check whether the clientdevice has begun sensing beacon signals again. If the client device isnot done, the process returns to step 206 where the client device 14receives the beacon signal from the next beacon in its path.

It should be noted that method 200 is performed for each availableclient device 14, and that multiple instances of method 200 can beperformed simultaneously, as various multiple client devices 14 are usedin the monitored area at the same time, offset times, etc.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method 220 of thepresent invention for examining beacon data to monitor location basedservice emitter infrastructure. These steps can be implemented usingprogram instructions stored on a computer readable medium, such asmemory, hard drive, optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, etc.), magnetic disk,etc. These steps can be implemented in hardware (logic gates, etc.),software, or a combination thereof.

The location beacon error detection agent 32 running on server 16preferably implements these steps at predetermined or selected times.For example, the agent 32 can be set up to examine collected beacon dataand provide a report at specified time intervals, such as once daily ata predetermined time, e.g., midnight. Preferably, the interval is setlong enough to allow customers to take enough of the available paths inthe store so that the client devices 14 move within the detection rangeof all (or most) of the beacons at the monitored area. In alternateembodiments, the steps of method 220 can be performed by software on theclient devices 14 (with beacon data collected on client devices), orsome steps performed by client devices 14 and others by the server 16.

The process begins at 222, and in step 224, the agent 32 examinescollected beacon data in the raw location data repository 30 that hasbeen collected since the last examination of the repository by agent 32.The agent compares the stored, accumulated detected beacon data topredefined normal beacon data for a selected path provided by aparticular client device. For example, in one embodiment, the raw beacondata is organized into client device paths, and then those device pathsare compared to the normal, expected paths. As described above, thenormal (expected) beacon data is retrieved from the path information andconstraint repository 34. In an alternate embodiment, the method cantake each normal path and compare it to the raw beacon data.

In step 226, the agent determines whether there is any missing beacondata for the selected path. As explained with reference to FIG. 3, themissing beacon data can be determined with the comparison made in step224 and applying rules and constraints known to the agent 32 fromrepository 34. If there is no missing beacon data on the path, then theprocess returns to step 224 to select another client device path (oranother section of the same path) for analysis. If there is missingbeacon data in the selected path, then in step 228 the agent examinesthe data for the missing beacon at different times to help determine themissing beacons' status. As described above, the missing beacon dataindicates a possibly failing beacon, and the agent can determine if theproblem is intermittent or permanent by examining the data from the samepath detected at a different, later time by the same or other clientdevices 14.

Once the analysis is complete in step 228, the agent checks in step 230whether another path or beacon in the raw location data repository 30must still be examined for failure. If so, then the process returns tostep 224 to select another path and examine its beacon data. If there isno more beacon data to analyze in step 230, then in step 232 the agentgenerates the beacon status report 36, which may be reviewed by an areamanager or operator, another program, etc. The process is then completedat 234.

It should be noted than in alternate embodiments, the agent 32 canprocess the beacon data in other ways. For example, the beacon data canbe examined in a different order or according to other criteria, e.g.,according to individual beacons, the locations of the beacons, etc.

Although examples of the present invention has been described herein aspertinent to customers and retail shopping activity, the presentinvention is also applicable to other areas permitting other types ofactivities, in which a user and/or area operator can make use of alocation based service including emitters or beacons.

Although the present invention has been described in accordance with theembodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readilyrecognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and thosevariations would be within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one ofordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

1. A method for monitoring the infrastructure of a location basedservice, the method comprising: storing beacon data transmitted by aplurality of beacons in an area and detected by a client device that ismoved along a path of locations in the area, the beacon data indicatingdetected locations on the path of the client device in the area; andanalyzing the detected locations on the path of the client device asrepresented by the detected beacon data, the analyzing includingcomparing the detected locations to location data that represents thelocations of the path in the area, the comparison indicating whether anybeacons along the path of the client device have failed.
 2. The methodclaim 1 wherein the beacon data is detected by the client device andprovided to a server to be stored.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein thebeacon data is provided from the client device to the server usingwireless signals.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein analyzing thedetected locations on the path includes determining whether anydetectable beacons are failing intermittently, and whether any beaconshave failed permanently.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein comparing thedetected locations to location data includes comparing the detectedbeacon data on the path of the client device to a predefined normal setof beacon data corresponding to the path of the client device todetermine whether any beacons along the path of the client device havefailed.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of client devicesdetect the beacon data from the beacons, each client device moving alonga path in the area, and wherein analyzing the detected locations on thepath includes analyzing detected locations on paths of the plurality ofclient devices to determine whether any beacons along the paths of theclient devices have failed.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein comparingthe detected locations to location data includes comparing the detectedbeacon data from a path of a client device to beacon data detected fromthe same path at a different time by the same client device or adifferent client device.
 8. The method of claim 4 wherein determiningwhether any detectable beacons are failing intermittently includescomparing the detected beacon data to beacon data detected on the pathat a plurality of later times.
 9. The method of claim 6 whereinanalyzing the detected locations on the paths is performed periodically,after a predetermined time period, when beacon data has been stored overthe predetermined time period from the plurality of client devices. 10.The method of claim 1 wherein the beacon data includes a uniqueidentification of the beacon transmitting the data.
 11. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the failure of a beacon includes batteries providinginsufficient power to the beacon.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein thearea is a retail store, and wherein the client device is coupled to ashopping cart moved with a customer in the retail store.
 13. A systemfor monitoring the infrastructure of a location based service, thesystem comprising: at least one client device that is moveable along atleast one path of locations in an area and which can detect beacon datatransmitted from each of a plurality of beacons provided in the area,the beacon data indicating detected locations on the path of the clientdevice in the area; and a server that receives the beacon data from theat least one client device, the server including a storage device thatstores the beacon data, wherein the server analyzes the detectedlocations on the path of the client device as represented by thedetected beacon data, wherein the detected locations are compared tolocation data that represents the locations of the path in the area, thecomparison indicating whether any beacons along the path of the clientdevice have failed.
 14. The system of claim 13 wherein the beacons useinfrared signals to transmit the beacon data, and wherein the at leastone client device includes an infrared detector that receives theinfrared signals.
 15. The system of claim 13 wherein the client deviceincludes a wireless transmitter and the server includes a wirelessreceiver, such that the client device can send the beacon data to theserver using wireless signals.
 16. The system of claim 13 wherein theserver analyzing the beacon data includes the server comparing thedetected beacon data on the path of the client device to a predeterminednormal set of beacon data corresponding to the path of the client deviceto determine whether any beacons along the path of the client devicehave failed.
 17. The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one clientdevice is a plurality of client devices, and wherein the plurality ofclient devices detect the beacon data from the beacons, each clientdevice moving along at least one path in the area, and wherein theserver analyzes the detected locations on the paths of the plurality ofclient devices to determine whether any beacons along the paths of theclient devices have failed.
 18. The system of claim 17 wherein theserver analyzing the detected locations on the path includes the servercomparing the detected beacon data from a path of a client device todata detected from the same path at a different time by the same clientdevice or a different client device.
 19. The system of claim 17 whereinthe server analyzes the detected locations on the paths periodically,after a predetermined time period, when beacon data has been stored overthe predetermined time period from the plurality of client devices. 20.The system of claim 13 wherein the beacon data includes a uniqueidentification of the beacon transmitting the data.
 21. The system ofclaim 13 wherein the area is a retail store, and wherein the clientdevice is coupled to a shopping cart moved with a customer in the retailstore.
 22. A computer readable medium including program instructions tobe implemented by a computer, the program instructions for monitoringthe infrastructure of a location based service, the program instructionsimplementing steps comprising: storing beacon data transmitted by aplurality of beacons in an area and detected by a client device that ismoved along a path of locations in the area, the beacon data indicatingdetected locations on the path of the client device in the area; andanalyzing the detected locations on the path of the client device asrepresented by the detected beacon data, the analyzing includingcomparing the detected locations to location data that represents thelocations of the path in the area, the comparison indicating whether anybeacons along the path of the client device have failed.
 23. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 22 wherein the beacon data wasdetected by the client device and provided to a server to be stored. 24.The computer readable medium of claim 23 wherein the beacon data isprovided from the client device to the server using wireless signals.25. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein analyzing thedetected locations on the path includes determining whether anydetectable beacons are failing intermittently, and whether any beaconshave failed permanently.
 26. The computer readable medium of claim 22wherein comparing the detected locations includes comparing the detectedbeacon data on the path of the client device to a predetermined normalset of beacon data corresponding to the path of the client device todetermine whether any beacons along the path of the client device havefailed.
 27. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein a pluralityof client devices detect the beacon data from the beacons, each clientdevice moving along a path in the area, and wherein analyzing thedetected locations on the path includes analyzing detected locations onpaths of the plurality of client devices to determine whether anybeacons along the paths of the client devices have failed.
 28. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 27 wherein comparing the detectedlocations includes comparing the detected beacon data from a path of aclient device to beacon data detected from the same path at a differenttime by the same client device or a different client device.
 29. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 25 wherein determining whether anydetectable beacons are failing intermittently includes comparing thedetected beacon data to beacon data detected on the path at a pluralityof later times.
 30. The computer readable medium of claim 27 whereinanalyzing the detected locations on the paths is performed periodically,after a predetermined time period, when beacon data has been stored overthe predetermined time period from the plurality of client devices. 31.The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein the area is a retailstore, and wherein the client device is coupled to a shopping cart movedwith a customer in the retail store.
 32. The method of claim 1 wherein alack of detecting a beacon at one or more particular locations of thelocation data is used for indicating whether any beacons along the pathof the client device have failed.
 33. The system of claim 13 wherein alack of detecting a beacon at one or more particular locations of thelocation data is used for indicating whether any beacons along the pathof the client device have failed.